Heavy Storm In Australia Injured Native Birds And Volunteers Ventured Out To Save Them

Australia’s severe hailstorms left more than damaged cars and cracked windows behind, they also sent injured native birds scrambling for help. In the middle of the chaos, volunteers stepped in to rescue birds that had been caught in bushes, wrapped in towels, or left stunned by the storm.

The situation is especially hard because birds are already vulnerable when bad weather hits, and this storm added another layer of danger. The images in this story show just how quickly a natural event can turn into an emergency for wildlife, and how much effort it takes to respond.

Here’s how the storm unfolded, and what rescuers found when they went out to help.

Strangled deep in bushes, and no way out!

Hail brutally hammered many birds in Australia during an extreme weather event. Hailstones the size of golf balls battered large portions of many Australian states.

Many social media users began uploading photographs of birds injured by the enormous hailstones, including photos of a galah and a crow injured near Parliament House. Both were transferred to a hospital for treatment.

Anthony Byrne posted a photo of an unfortunate bird discovered in his garden by a friend. The storm that slammed across Canberra yesterday killed one person.

@AnthonyByrne_MP

Wrapped up in a towel, all safe and cozy.

This unfortunate cockatoo got caught in today's hailstorm that ripped through Canberra. After the storm passed, a friend discovered the poor bird in our backyard.

In Canberra, a hailstone struck this unlucky bird in the head. It is being cared for by staff in both chambers of Parliament. 

On Twitter, Tom Swann, a researcher at the Australia Institute, posted a photo of "a very chilly and injured galah wrapped in a towel in a box."

He went on to add that after taking the injured bird to a vet, he was met with a "constant stream" of injured birds! He was unable to find assistance from any wildlife charity.

@Tom_Swann

It echoes the same tough boundary question as an OP refusing to pet sit a friend’s aggressive parrot.

The injured crow getting all the attention, medical and emotional.

We have a very cold and injured galah wrapped in a towel in a box. The wildlife act number has been dialed. According to the ACT section of the RSPCA, injured animals should be transferred to a vet or wildlife organization as soon as possible, and they should be handled as little as possible. 

"Try to limit the injured animal's exposure to people and loud noises," the RSPCA advises on its website. "Unless you have expert knowledge or experience, do not attempt to feed or treat it."

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Canberra and Queanbeyan. The Bureau of Meteorology previously advised that "extremely dangerous" thunderstorms have been seen on radar.

@finbaromallon

Damaged properties and car windows cracked due to the severe hailstorm.

"Damaging, locally catastrophic gusts, huge, possibly enormous hailstones, and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding are all possible," according to the BOM.

There have been reports of hailstones up to five centimeters in diameter falling around the city.

Around 12:45 p.m., a wind gust of 116 km/h was reported at Canberra airport.

@Tom_Swann

Surviving in a natural, brutal, and merciless environment is quite challenging for birds. There are predatory animals or birds out there to consume them and viruses to infect them.

Bad weather can also be added to the list of potentially fatal hazards. Severe storms can kill countless beautiful creatures, including birds.

Share this story with your friends and family and ask them to watch out and help the birds who have been victims of this harsh weather.

Want another pet-related fight, read about a negligent roommate parrot refusing reimbursement.